Stephanie Schraders Walnut Cups Recipes

WALNUT CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line mini muffin pans with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter and flour until a dough forms. Roll into 1 inch balls and press them into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared muffin cups.
• In a small bowl, blend together the egg, butter, vanilla and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups, but do not fill all the way to the top or the mixture will bubble over.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the crusts are golden.

SUGARED WALNUT SUNDAES IN CHOCOLATE CUPS

Steps:

• Sugared Walnuts: In a deep saucepan, combine the sugar, water, orange zest and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add the walnuts and simmer, stirring, as the water evaporates. The glaze will be shiny and transparent at first, then turn opaque as the water cooks away. When the nuts are completely coated with sugar crystals, they are done. Spread them out on a sheet pan to cool. (To wash the saucepan, soak it overnight.) The walnuts can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in an airtight container.
• Sundae Cups: Spread the toasted walnuts out on a plate. Dip the rims of 6 coffee cups or mugs into the melted chocolate, then into the chopped walnuts. Turn them right side up and set aside. Dip 6 teaspoons in the chocolate and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Let the cups and spoons cool at room temperature until set, about 2 hours. The cups can be made up to 2 days in advance.
• To assemble sundae, scoop ice cream into each chocolate-dipped coffee cup and pour espresso over it. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sugared walnuts. Place the cup on the saucer and rest a chocolate-dipped spoon alongside.

STEPHANIE SCHRADER'S WALNUT CUPS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer cream 1 stick of the butter with the cream cheese until the mixture is light and fluffy, add the flour and the salt, and beat the mixture until it forms a dough. Form the dough into a disk and chill it, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 30 minutes. Press rounded teaspoons of the dough into thirty-six 1/8-cup muffin tins and work the dough evenly onto the bottoms and up the sides of the tins to form 1/8-inch-shells.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a bowl whisk together the egg, the brown sugar, the melted butter, and the vanilla until the mixture is combined well. Divide the filling among the shells, sprinkle it with the walnuts, and bake the walnut cups in the middle of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crusts are golden. Let the cookies cool in the tins on racks for 10 minutes, remove them from the tins carefully, and let them cool completely on the racks. The walnut cups may be made 2 months in advance and kept frozen in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Special equipment: 12 paper cupcake liners, a 12-cup muffin pan
• For the cupcakes: Place an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
• In a small bowl combine the walnuts, 1 cup mini chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of the brownie mix. Toss until all the ingredients are coated. Set aside.
• In a large bowl mix together the remaining brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Stir for 20 seconds until blended. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan (cupcake liners will be full). Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until a cake tester inserted into the cupcakes comes out with moist fudgy crumbs. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting, about 30 minutes.
• For the frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the cheeses together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable. Refrigerate the frosting until ready to use.
• Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes and garnish with the remaining mini chocolate chips. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve at room temperature.